Dodgers: Penny overcame a shaky start to pitch into the eighth inning against the Giants, deserving of a 16th victory, only for the bullpen to let it get away. He wasn't overpowering with only one strikeout, but only one run scored while he was on the field, as he made important pitches to elude jams.

D'backs: Davis gave the D-backs a rare poor start after the All-Star break, allowing four runs in four innings Sunday against the Cardinals. All four runs scored in the third, highlighted by Miguel Cairo's two-run triple. Davis gave up five of his seven hits in that inning, but stranded runners at second and third with one out after the four runs scored. Davis did not have his usual good rhythm and command, which he needs to be successful. The outing was uncharacteristic for Davis the past few months, as 10 of his previous 12 outings were quality starts. Still, Arizona won for the 11th time in his last 12 outings.

COMMENTS:

Losing two out of three to the Giants was not expected--that's a team that we were supposed to beat. But winning two out of three to the Padres was not exactly expected, either--particularly given Jake Peavy pitched Game 1, the Dodgers' recent series win was huge. So now we see if we can play against (what has strangely become) a quality team, the NL West-leading Diamondbacks. We won't see Brandon Webb over the weekend series, whereas we're dealing our aces Penny and Derek "Butterfingers" Lowe. This series will test the Dodgers' mettle, and may determine once and for all whether we will make, or even deserve to make, the post-season.